Con Air

Con Air is an action blast produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, an old hand in the business. Nicolas Cage plays Cameron Poe, who is to be paroled after eight years behind bars. He is looking forward more than anything in the world to coming home to his wife Tricia and his daughter, whom he has never seen. Cameron Poe was convicted of manslaughter, but the former soldier did not intend to kill, only to defend himself against the men who were provoking him and Tricia.

Cameron is to be transported on Con Air, short for Convict Air, a prisoner transport plane, but they are joined by other prisoners who are being transferred to other prisons, among them murderers and rapists such as Cyrus Grissom, Diamond Dog, Johnny 23 and the mass murderer Garland Greene. These prisoners hijack the plane, which is not exactly in Cameron's interest. Without the hijackers' knowledge he works against their operation and makes contact with the authorities. Colm Meaney plays the thick-headed FBI agent, whose counterpart is the young, shrewd Vince Larkin, who is not so easily intimidated.

Con Air does not give a hoot about realism. The villains are 100% evil, and Cameron is almost superhumanly heroic and selfless. Bangs and suspense reign supreme. The humour lies beneath the surface, but does come up for air in the often amusing dialogue.